The concept of a mega church is one that can be conceived in either one or two ways. You can say that a church with over 10,000 members is more like a place of business that has been built with questionable practices like preaching all about money and sowing seeds in order to purposely deceive the flock so the numbers will increase. Or, you can look at a mega church by maintaining that it is a church where God's blessings flow throughout; so from the pastor to the congregation there is obedience, sacrifice, and continued study of the true Word of God. Then God continues to multiply the mega church so people can be spiritually fed in large numbers. However you want to look at it is your own perception. Both mega church cases can be argued.
It is important to note that a mega church with over 10,000 is not a sin in and of itself. There are some very large mega churches in America who do preach God's Word in spirit and in truth. I have been to a few. As a matter of fact, I would personally like to recommend this mega church to you if you are ever near North Georgia. Then I will give an example of a mega church where they might as well have been watching a movie about "under-water basket weaving!"
The mega church that I recommend is called, "Free Chapel." It is headed by Senior Pastor Jentezen Franklin, located in Gainesville, Ga. Jentezen is a wonderful man of God, dedicated to serving his fellow man and always giving credit to Almighty God when referring to his calling in life. He teaches sound doctrine, with an emphasis on the importance of fasting. In my first experience at this mega church Free Chapel, my partner and I got there about 10 minutes early. We came through the parking lot of the mega church, and I noticed many police officers directing traffic and waving to the people. We got to the front door of the mega church, and I noticed that every single person who greeted us (male or female) had a huge smile on their face. IT WAS VERY COMFORTING DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS REALLY CHECKING THIS MEGA CHURCH OUT TO SEE IF IT WAS ONE OF THE LUKEWARM CHURCHES OF "THE LAST DAYS" THAT GOD WARNED US ABOUT IN REVELATIONS.
As we walked into the main mega church auditorium, I knew there was a strong presence of the Holy Spirit. The church is beautiful. However, when you pay attention to detail it is very evident that Jentezen did not want his mega church sanctuary to appear overly extravagant. As the mega church service began with praise and worship music, the entire place seemed "ALIVE." People were raising hands and singing. There was a representation from all tribes and nations. Black, white, short, tall, this mega church Free Chapel had it all. As I was singing, goosebumps overtook me and tears flowed down my face. I began praying in tongues, shouting at the top of my lungs in the mega church, and giving thanks to God for allowing me to attend such a special place. I loved being in the presence of the Lord so strongly. Jentezen's sermon was phenomenal. He talked about how we all come to a place called "THREE DAYS FROM NOWHERE" when our lives' have completely fallen apart and God in HIS infinite mercy lifts us back up. It was such a powerful word. When we left the mega church, smiles were everywhere. People went out of their way to make every mega church visitor feel like they were right at home. There was absolutely nothing about this mega church that seemed "artificial." It truly was a blessing from God.
Now my second experience with a mega church was quite the opposite from the first one. What a joke, and I mean that literally. The next mega church I attended was called: North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga. North Point mega church boasts of having well over 15,000 people. They put an emphasis on "GROUPS" and liken their mega church structure to a man's house complete with "The Kitchen," "The Dining Room" and one or two other "room" type areas. Odd, I know.
The mega church is headed by Senior Pastor Andy Stanley, the son of renowned author and leader of another mega church, First Baptist Church of Atlanta, Dr. Charles Stanley. Being affiliated with First Baptist, I thought North Point mega church was going to be an uplifting experience... BOY WAS I EVER WRONG ON THAT ONE. God uses the term "lukewarm" to describe the latter day churches as neither hot nor cold. In other words, when you attend a lukewarm church in the last days it will remind you of urine. Suffice it to say that this mega church was a little bit yellow.
When my partner and I got to the mega church, I noticed the parking lot was full of people who looked like they were hung-over. As we got to the front door of the mega church, we were greeted with obvious fake smiles and people looking at the ground... you know the deal. It was almost like everyone in this mega church who greeted you had something to hide. Eerie. When the music of the mega church service started, I felt a heavy feeling in my heart and my stomach began to ache. In my spirit I spoke to the Lord and asked, "What is going on in this mega church?" He whispered, "I am not there." As I gazed around the mega church auditorium, people stared into space like zombies. No one was singing. It was crazy. I saw maybe three people in this monstrous mega church building who were actually WORSHIPING GOD. Now, normally when I am in church I am almost jumping up and down with praise because I love the Lord so much!!! In this mega church... I JUST STAYED IN MY SEAT AND WATCHED IN UTTER AMAZEMENT.
When the sermon began, I almost walked out. This mega church clown Andy Stanley actually had the audacity to begin a new series of books and dvds (that are sold in the bookstore at the back of the church) on the importance of "BALANCE." In other words... balance of your FINANCES!!! Hello, are we not in a recession? Who the #@%@ wants to hear a mega church sermon about MONEY now? Then this guy gets up there and puts on a mega church comedy routine that would make Will Ferrell jealous!!! It was a joke alright!!! In these desperate times Andy, people NEED TO HEAR ABOUT JESUS!!! They need to understand WHY HE was made a living sacrifice for us, so they can make it through these troubled times with their sites on HEAVENLY THINGS!!! Just because you run a mega church in 2009, it does not mean you should be teaching such apostasy.
This mega church was an absolute disgrace. To think that over 15,000 (and growing) people a week go to this mega church to GET FED... makes me want to ask God to blow up the mega church building when no one is in it. IF YOU BELONG TO THIS MEGA CHURCH PEOPLE, GET OUT!!! Read about what the Bible says when it comes to the "lukewarm" churches of the last days. GOD SAYS THAT HE WILL LITERALLY SPIT THEM OUT OF HIS MOUTH!!! YOUR MEGA CHURCH IS GOING TO BE SPIT OUT OF HIS MOUTH!!!
Test the spirits my friends. If you are in a mega church where money takes presidence over JESUS CHRIST, and is all about social groups and mega church meetings, then you need to move on to another place.
***PLEASE DO NOT CASUALLY STROLL BY THIS BLOG. IF YOU ARE GOING TO VISIT AT ALL, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU WOULD READ EVERY POST!***
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4 comments:
wow, it is hard to know where to begin. While I have never been to Free Chapel I have been attending a North Point campus for years. I am sorry you had such a negative reaction. I personally accepted Jesus as my Savior directly as a result of the people I encountered and I have personnaly witnessed many changed lives. The truth of Jesus is not compromised nor is the gospel hidden. God reaches people in many different ways through many different churches and styles so just because a church isnt for you doesnt mean it should be blown up. And BTW, I think now is the exact time that God is trying to speak to us about how we handle His money that He has entrusted us with as contrasted with your view.
For His Glory
Jim
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your comment. I used to be a proponent of the prosperity gospel. I stood by it and defended it against anyone who would dare question it. Then I began paying attention to what people were saying about "The Falling Away" of the church in the Last Days.
As time passed I prayed for guidance, and God began to show me himself why this is false doctrine.
Please read my first post at the bottom of this page. You might understand what Jesus was talking about if you have ears to hear. Whether you know it or not, you are attending a lukewarm church. I pray that God will open your eyes in HIS perfect timing.
Hello Trey,
LOL!!!!!! I can so much relate to your story about the churches! As long as we are mentioning names, I think I will add two more to your list.
World Harvest Church in Columbus, OH. I used to be a member there. It was nearing 10,000 members and over 300 employees when I left but that was amazing since Pastor Rod began preaching in his own backyard with only 8 people, I think it may have been. I have to say that I learned a great deal about the bible, about God, about BOLDNESS from Pastor Rod and other teachers there. It seems that the primary lesson God was beginning to teach me there was actually about Satan and his demons, about demonic deliverances - a subject which most churches never discuss and for which most of us would prefer to hide our heads in the sand on. However, what no one wants to hear is a negative point but it's a point which is a prevalent shared problem today and that is as time went by in that church I began to realize that "love" was missing and more emphasis was placed on money. The church ran like a business. There was squabbling. Guards were at every door and sometimes a person could not even walk through the church wherever they wanted to because the guards would not allow it. Pastor Rod had his own bodyguards all the time. Instead of depending on God, he depended on bodyguards to protect him from crazy women, according to him. The story he told once was that a woman had either tried to attack him or pulled a knife on him - you know it has been a while and these details are not so prominent on my mind anymore. There are examples I could discuss but I am going to refrain for now. Might be going into another topic.
The second and more recent church experience would be First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, TN. This place also runs as a business - the number of employee's is so astounding. I do not have the actual numbers of anything there but the church appears to be considerably larger than WHC. The Pastor built an empire, the number of kitchens and additional rooms is unknown, a cafeteria, a gym,and finally a family center. The idea is so that all members who are "approved" to be members of their elite club will remain on the premises and not associate with those who are not members. Church members consist of thieves, liars, cheaters, witches, swingers, freemasons. I briefly worked for a member who enjoyed demonic video games and treated his wife poorly. For 3 years I worked in this preschool until a witch was brought in on staff and then I found a whole herd of them there. I was told that there was no need for me to teach 2 year olds scripture because they will not learn it anyway. This church's emphasis is on groups, taking cruises, increasing their finances, having parties, and terrorizing those in town who do not attend their church. They close church for ballgames.
Members of FBCH have been trying to destroy my reputation and my very being, and to put me and my mother out of our jobs for the last 3 years. And so they call themselves "Christians."
Dre
http://www.propheciesofrevelation.org
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